You run the Zevenheuvelenloop daily,
run amuck with your boundaries
never bind or restrict yourself, always deadline after deadline,
and at the end of the line, you’ll never take “no” as your answer.
There’s been a pebble in your hiking boot for too long,
you don’t even notice anymore, until you step out of line,
and sideline yourself in favour of the runners.
When you stand still, look around, and back,
a lot more shoes are stomping up that hill,
stand still, stand tall, eyes gazing
some water breaks, rest, not a moment wasted.
You can lean on me, when you toss that pebble,
and if it ever meddles with you again,
we’ll forget about those record times and run
full speed, at our own pace.
Thijs Kersten
Campus poet 23/24